Spend part of an afternoon at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, partially the brainchild of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park. The 1899 tri-domed conservatory is a highlight, showcasing themed areas that include a Rainforest Garden, Desert Garden, Tropical Flower Garden and Dinosaur Gardens.
Enjoy a night out in one of the city's notable nightlife neighborhoods. West Chippewa Street draws a younger, high-energy crowd to its many busy bars and cool cafés, while Allentown is home to plenty of less boisterous watering holes.
Root, root, root for the home team at a wide range of pro sports offerings. The NFL's Buffalo Bills, NHL's Buffalo Sabers, Triple-A's Buffalo Bisons and the National Lacrosse League's Buffalo Bandits provide the fun.
Savor a night of casual dining centered around a local creation-the Buffalo wing-by dropping in at the Anchor Bar on the corner of Main and North Streets. The finger-food favorite was invented here in 1964, and the bar remains a fabulously fun and funky destination.
Take a stroll on the "Elmwood Strip"-the offbeat section of Elmwood Avenue between Forest and Virginia Streets. From aromatherapy to independent music to hip clothing, you'll enjoy a selection of stores that are perfect for casual browsing.
To appreciate Buffalo's awesome array of architecture, arrange for a tour of the Darwin D. Martin House on Summit Avenue, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most renowned works. This incredible example of "Prairie House" architecture includes a 10,000-square-foot main home and stunning glass-roofed conservatory. Docent-led tours must be scheduled in advance, but the time and trouble are well worth it to visit to this superb home.
Designate at least two hours for the Albright-Knox Gallery on Elmwood Avenue, a sprawling structure with old and new wings showcasing a gamut of great artists. Need we say more than Pollock, Warhol, Johns, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Miró and Mondrian?
